canada

In Recognition of The Day the Earth Stood Still: Klaatu Poses 5 Questions for Earthlings

Dec 122008

In recognition of the opening of the major motion picture The Day the Earth Stood Still, a special guest, Klaatu, has entered the Halls of Rock to pose 5 questions for earthlings. These questions can only be answered after listening to the following songs.

Klaatu, “Calling Occupants (of Interplanetary Life)”

Question 1: If this was supposed to be The Beatles, who was supposed to have been singing lead, an infant Carl Newman?

Klaatu, “California Jam”

Question 2: If “California Jam” had appeared on any of those post-Brian Wilson breakdown albums that the brave pop fans among you can stomach, would it have been considered a “triumph of the post-Pet Sounds era?”

Klaatu, “Anus of Uranus”

Question 3: Is the above song’s title worthy of the world-renowned standards of “Canadian humor?”

Klaatu, “Sub-Rosa Subway”

Question 4: For you, does the sound of the bass at the beginning of “Sub-Rosa Subway” nearly single-handedly justify the entire song’s existence?

Klaatu, “Sir Bodsworth Rugglesby III”>

Question 5: If you were casting the major motion picture version of Klaatu’s 3:47 EST album on behalf of Robert Stigwood – and death was not a factor – who would you cast in the role of Sir Bodsworth Rugglesby III (remember, appropriate singing ability should be considered)?

On behalf of Klaatu, thank you, earthlings.

Carl Newman’s Somewhat Brilliant Past

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Feb 042008

Hello, Newman

Although Carl Newman‘s musical career has taken off since the formation of The New Pornographers, the band/collective he co-leads with Dan Bejar, Newman’s work with his lesser-known previous band, Zumpano, is a mine of semi-precious gems worth seeking out. Here’s the opening song from their first album, Look What the Rookie Did. Those of you who still wait for that “difficult” leader of The Left Banke to make a comeback should pay particular attention. Inordinate fans of Jimmy Webb, whose song Zumpano covered, should also sit up by the old Victrola and perk up those ears.

Zumpano, “Rosecrans Boulevard”

Here’s another one from the debut that better points to what Newman would excel at a few years later, with the lucious and more dynamic Neko Case taking occasional turns at the mic.

Zumpano, “The Party Rages On”

Beginning to ring a bell or two?

Newman is the other redhead in the above video, a handsome redhead at that, but lacking in Ann-Margaret-like, All-American animal magnetism, wouldn’t you say?

I’ve got most of The New Pornographers’ albums, and each one has a couple of strong songs, including songs sung by Newman and the Bowie-esque Art Rock trimmings provided by Bejar. (Bejar’s own albums, by the way, leading his band Destroyer, have their moments.) His However, the band rarely kicks it out with either of those two at the mic, and Newman’s tempered approach often gets lost in a sea of ELO-isms.
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The Longest Concert Ever… As Slow As Possible!

Posted by sally_cinnamon

Jul 022007

Did you know that as of this March, a group in Japan was awarded as the current record holders of the World’s Longest Concert? Beating out Canada (who held it since 2002) in the Guinness Book (to my own chagrin). On Thursday night, when The Fiery Furnaces played, the audience was put to the test for almost an hour and 45 minutes of original concert material. For an indie band, that’s kiiind of a long set – especially when you’re not expecting it.

Sparks; in a pensive mood. I would expect a long set from Sparks.

With no breaks between songs when your band sounds more like a melodic Trenchmouth or Red Red Meat fronted by a not less interesting Patti Smith or PJ Harvey, it can test your fortitude and rock n’ roll strength to stay interested – and I like to think that I’ve got a pretty good attention span. Double drummers, and lots of on stage action almost trick you into believing that the momentum and excitement could keep up with itself, but all that just falls to the background once it goes way past the hour mark – even the encore is mixed in with the regular set to “save us” from waiting for them to come back out on stage (we are told).

Is it possible that the band may have exceeded even their own expectations in length? Is it simply a practice in showing us who’s The Boss? After seeing Yo La Tengo‘s live show again earlier this year (not having seen them since the mid-90s), I was lamenting to a friend that I really liked most of the band’s set, but that the actual length of the show went on forever! He completely understood, having seen Yo La Tengo many times himself in recent years, what I was getting at:

Should experimentation take the live stage or go back to the garage?

Cool Canadian Cuts: The Bicycles!

Posted by sally_cinnamon

Mar 302007

“If The Bicycles have a sound it includes happiness, a little weirdness, catchy melodies, lots of harmonies, lots of parts, very short songs, and a kind of upbeat sloppiness.” (Dana Snell, Drummer for The Bicycles)

I first started hearing about the fun, quirky, and talented The Bicycles of Toronto, Ontario via my musical friend Dan Bryk who was working on a few different tracks they had recorded with him in North Carolina for their current album, maybe now well over 3 years ago. Apparently there have been a lot of big changes for the group since then, including adding new members, going out on tour with UK artist The Boy Least Likely To… among other highlights, such as making a video, working on a tribute album with Andy Kim, various side-projects and so much more…and I was so confused by the email announcement from my friend Maria’s label (Fuzzy Logic Recordings, based out of Toronto as well) for their recent release The Good, The Bad & The Cuddly that I actually thought that this was their first, second album! If that’s even possible!

Photo: Beth Hamill (rockpaperpixels.com)

Let me just say that it’s been a long time coming for this adventuresome group of B-B-Bicycles! I sent off some quick questions to Maria, and soon their talented drummer, Dana Snell, was able to answer the call and pop in for a short bit of interview Q&A…

First of all, I have to ask: who is the talented naked man dancing in the new Bicycles video?
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